Welcome to the Blog
3 Ways to go Beyond Teachers’ “Why”
As a teacher, knowing your “why” – your motivation, your purpose, your mission statement– is incredibly important. In fact, I’d call it essential! It is
The Truth about Losing Control in Your Arts Classroom
I have a hard truth to speak about today: Control. When we’re uncovering our own values and motivations, sometimes we stumble upon something… icky. But
Burnout Express: Compassion Fatigue in Music Teachers
Compassion fatigue, AKA Secondary Traumatic Stress or vicarious trauma, is a real problem for music teachers. Aren’t we supposed to love our students? And
10+ Tips for Avoiding Cultural Appropriation in the Music Room
So you’ve decided to include a unit, event, or piece of repertoire in your curriculum that is from a culture or genre that is new
How to Get More Expressive Performances
How do you get your students to SHOW their expression in their performance? Being expressive is a very personal journey. Some professionals remain very stone-faced,
Three New Alternatives to Ranked Instrumental Seating
The traditional practice of placing musicians into ranked seating positions has been passed down from professional orchestras and military bands into school bands and orchestras
How to Move from Disrespect to a More Trusting Classroom Culture
I frequently preach about the trust and creativity connection, especially when you’re teaching improvisation. But if you search around for how to teach improvisation, you’ll
Thinking Styles in the Music Classroom
On the bridge of a starship, the captain begins her log entry as her crew checks routine readouts. “Captain’s log, stardate 8130.3…” Little beeps and
POWER TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE: Engaging Students in Politics
This article was originally published in the Feb 2021 edition of Gifted Education Review Most school-aged students do not see themselves in politics, and have
How to Deal with Pressure to Perform
There are so many terms for school arts programs: specials, related arts, expressive academics, integrated arts… All are attempts to describe how visual arts, music,